Token thrown game



May 30, 1950 J. ARMsTRoNG TOKEN Tx-mowN GAME Filed June 25, 1947Patented May 30, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE` TOKEN THROWN GAMEJohn Armstrong, Bayonne, N. J. Application June 25, 1942, Serial No.'156,937 z claims. (c1. 27s-105') This invention relates to games, andmore particularly such as are played with tokens thrown or pitched froma certain distance against obstructions.

The invention consists of a circular trap-like structure, having acentral funnel below which a snap device is arranged to provide asnap-like noise on its return movement when a token moves it out ofplace, said snap device acting as a target. Concentrically surroundingthe central target a table provided with numbered zones receives thetokens which missed the target. Preferably, the trap structure isconstructed oi wires forming spaces for the passage of the tokens, withsuitable obstructions deflecting the tokens in ordi` to add difcultiesto the player. A bag below the table receives the tokens, both thosewhich hit the target and those on the table, the table being providedwith discharge means for ejecting the tokens into the bag.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a central vertical section of the improved game;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. l, with thecage part removed;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the snap target device, and fasteningstaple;

Fig. 4 is a detail side View of the pintle holding device;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, the wire being of metalsurrounded by rubber;

Fig. 6 is a modied form of the wire shown n Fig. 5, the wire being ofplastic;

Fig. 7 is a moded form of the vertical wire bent around the horizontalwires; and

Fig. 8 is a detail taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe various views.

Referring to the drawings, the structure preferably includes a squaretable I having legs II.

Upon the upper surface of the table I0, a circular trap I2, consistingof a plurality of horizontally spaced barriers I3, held in spacedposition by three or four vertically disposed wires I4. These verticalwires may be soldered to each horizontal barrier either to the inside oroutside of the same, or may be looped around each of the same. Thesewires are preferably at the outside of the circular trap I2. Each of thehorizontal barriers I3 is preferably shaped with a triangularcross-section, with one apex extending inwardly (Figs. 6). They may bemade entirely of plastic or rubber, as in I5 in Fig. 6 0r of a metallicrod I6 covered by a plastic or rubber or a rubber composition as I1 inFig. 5. By presenting the base outwardly, a better obstruction isprovided against the entrance of small discs or tokens 3|. The trap I2has a central funnel 20, which terminates at its bottom at an opening 2Iin the table I0. The lower end of this opening 2l is covered by :a disc22 of metal or the like, supported by a flat spring 25 held at 24. Thetension of the spring 25 is balanced against the weight of a token, sothat when a token rests on the disc 22, its weight will overcome thespring tension, and the disc 22 will descend, and the token will dropinto the bag 21. On the return of the disc 22 under the reaction of thespring 25, it will cause a snapping noise.

The bag 21 may be of any suitable shape, but in the embodiment shown itis preferably of square shape, the body of the bag being of suitabletextile material, and having a circumferential hem 28, in which a wire29 is enclosed. This hemmed wire is suitably supported at the undersurface of the table I0, by detachable supports 30, preferably of aturn-button type pivoted at 30a, enabling the bag to be removed orreadily re-attached.

Upon the upper surface of the table, suitable markings are provided, asfor instance, ten circles, numbered from one to ten, the highest numberbeing nearest the central opening 2 I. As the tokens 3l of one color,take a position, on the upper surface of the table, the aggregate of theadditions count in favor of that colored token, the other colored token,being also counted. The token which lists the target that is. theopening 2|, receives the highest number.

When the number of tokens allowed to each player has been played, andthe respective tokens are disposed on the upper surface of the table.and their positions counted, the game is completed, and it is necessaryto gather the tokens for the next play.

For this purpose, the table I0, consists of two parts Ia and Ib, meetingat the center line of the table along the edges 33 of the table boardsIlla and Illb, each part being hinged at their marginal ends, as by thehinges 35. The boards I0a and Ib may then be brought down into aninclined position sufcient to slide the tokens olf and into the bag 21.The pintles 36 of the hinges 35 are extended at one end and providedwith a handle 31 to manipulate the boards Ia and I0b. The pintle 36 isprovided with two U- shaped bends 36a which press against the lowersurface of the table boards in order to raise them and return them tohorizontal position. A hook device 40 is secured to a projection 4l ofthe table I0, which engages the handle 31 to hold it in a positioncorresponding to the horizontal position of the table boards. Byunhooking the device 4D the boards drop into inclined tilted position.The other end of the pintle 36 is guided in a guide 42 screwed to theunderside of the table I0. Y

Upon the luppersurface of the table i is a circumferential guard 46a tocatch any tokens which do not enter the trap.

Thus, a skilled player succeeds in dropping the token into the centralfunnel and upon'the spring y actuated target disc 22, obtaining thehighest mark. The other tokens are either obstructed by hitting thebarriers and may drop into the circumferential guard d0, or arepartially obstructed and fall within the embrasureof the.

the trap, and take a ,position upon the upper surface Vof the; table.

The, shape of the trapdevice, is likethat O f .dropped'ogiva used asageneratrix. Thewires, :'andby wire is included a Vplastic..IIateriaL are:arrangedin spaced relationship, with the other ".wires decreasing indiameter from lthe lowest `I'wire to the uppermost wire, and the innerwires increasing in diameter from the lowermost to the .upperrnost.wird. These horizontally disposed wires .are held inspacedposition bysuitable verf :ticals by soldering or by looping. The spaceshaveawidthslightly less than Vthe diameter of f'atoken, sothat, shouldthe token arrive adjacent .fthe'wiresin broadsideposition, the 'tokenwill istrikexoneor the other wire forming a space and be spun ordeflected from its course. Should the tokenstrike 4an `inclinedwall itwill be, deflected. :.Thus, mam/hazards are provided, which the vSkillfofY a Yplayer must overcome in 'order to obtain l-high. markings oratarget hit..

From; the foregoing it isseen that the trapis -formed-of .spacedhorizontal triangularlyshaped "wires, with their-apices, directed.Vinwardly, and their bases directed-outwardly, the trap bei-ng rcircularshape, and hai/ingV a central funnel, 'below which the target isplaced.A 'This trap fis :supported-'omaitablehaying graduated markings.BeloW, thetablek 'is a bag `to collect; the tokens :whichhave beenplayed. The table is arranged to discharge the. played, tokens. intothe. bag, `which 'is detachable andreplaceable.

Tnet game can beplayed by. one or four players Tini anhome Each l'playeris allowed 'ten tokens lof/onefcolor. The; colors .can bebluegreen, red,yellow, which imakes forty .tokens-l When played.- at State :faire:benet-shOWS, 161993. the Lconcessionairel cand have .fon e ,person playthe :game for prizes such as, cigars, dolls, canes, and .such withsuitable tokens.v

To win the grand prize, the player must make a direct hit in funnel,causing the target to snap back with a smack.

I have described several forms of my invention, but obviously Variouschanges may be made in the details disclosed without departing from thespirit of the invention as set out in the following claims.

1 claim:

1.In agame, a plurality of horizontally disposed vrings of wirevertically spaced apart, said plurality including outer rings decreasingin diameter from the lowest to the highest and including; inner ringsincreasing in diameter from the lowest to the highest, a plurality ofradially disposed pairs of hoops of wire of ogive shape having,theirinner ends spaced apart, to form a funnel shaped passage,supporting said inner rings-and having their outer ends supporting saidouter rings, said spacing of the wires pro- Viding. passages `fiorthrcwn tokens, ar horizontal table for supporting the. hoops, andk,having` `an opening, below the funnel shaped passage, a spring actuatedflap for closing the opening at the rloi/rer side ofthe table, saidtable having markingsV at itsnpper sideradially disposed rom`said.opening to the outer4 ends of the hoops, whereby astoken lstrikingVthe flap at the bottom .cf the innnel moves, the flap and` passesvthrough ...the (manina-.and other tokens take .a .position .on

the. uppersi'de of the table along. one of, said markings.

2. The structure of claim 1, in whieh the table consists :of a,:stationary lframe.and `,two parts *hinged tousaidgfrarne, thefreetendsof, thear's meetingl .on a .line .passing yhorizorrtallythrough athe opening, each part having a4 length atleast substantiallyequal t0- ,the-darneter of saidlltr fends Vof thehoops., `and a widthiromits free end toits .hingedgend .substantially .equal the radius ofsaid outer ends of the hoops, the descending of the-free end of,theparts discharging the ,tokens ,from .the .upper side ,oi the hingedparts of the table.

'REFERENCE-S l Gif-PED f The, following rrelerences .are of record 'in.the

